Mad World: A Study of Ecclesiastes

It is quite possible that one of the greatest ironies in life is that we are taught from the day we are born that we can gain happiness through the things the world offers us if we work hard enough to gain them.

Then so many of us gain these things through a life of toil. We find wealth, a meaningful job, relationships that are supposed to fulfill, and even intellectual satisfaction. But the cruel reality is that at the end of the day we find that we still are not contented. Moreover, we actually find that sometimes our dreams even disappoint.

Famed sociologist, Alexis de Tocqueville, described his observations of society all the way back in the 1830’s. He said there’s a “strange melancholy that haunts…in the midst of abundance.” The Rolling Stones had their own way of saying it: “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” These observances are not anything new. In fact, thousands of years ago a book was written called Ecclesiastes that shares some perspective with us. Most likely written by a man who had gained everything under the sun, he tells us that gaining all these things was somewhat of a letdown to him. In fact, his story is a cautionary tale to us today.

What if you’ve been duped to believe something that is not true? What if gaining all the things you’ve wanted in the world still leaves you wanting more? Can you find satisfaction and fulfillment in life, or do we simply live in a mad world that is an vicious circle of disappointment? Listen to these sermons from Imprint Church in Woodinville that were delivered in October, November, and December of 2015 to hear the answer.